Jan 20, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga (90) celebrates after winning the NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The 49ers won 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles today announced they agreed to terms with NT Isaac Sopoaga to a three-year deal reportedly worth close to $12 million ($5 million guaranteed). The Eagles switching to a 3-4 defense under new head coach Chip Kelly were in dire need of a strong nose tackle to anchor the defensive line. The eight-year veteran has registered 217 tackles and 7.5 sacks during his career and played in both a 4-3 and 3-4 scheme during his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers.

Sopoaga more commonly known as “Soap,” became dispensable once the 49ers signed NT Ian Williams to a brand new contract. Soap played his entire career with the 49ers, after being drafted in the fourth-round (104th) of the 2004 NFL Draft. Soap will provide the Eagles with a starting nose tackle while bringing a tenacious attitude along the defensive line.

Soap was a serviceable defensive lineman during his tenure with the team, but never had the impact of a NT Haloti Ngata (Baltimore Ravens) that the team had hoped for. The 49ers felt it was time to move on and apparently so did Sopoaga.

With Sopoaga leaving for Philadelphia, it marks the 49ers second free-agent to depart, the first being TE Delanie Walker who signed a four-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) runs against San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga (90) during the third quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

As the San Francisco 49ers begin restructuring their roster, they will need to first decide which of their own players will be rewarded contract extensions. Several key players are set to become unrestricted free-agents when free-agency begins on March 12, 2013 at 4:00 pm, including FS Dashon Goldson, NT Isaac Sopoaga, ILB Tavares Gooden, ILB Larry Grant, DE Ricky Jean-Francois, CB Tramaine Brock, FS Darcel McBath, TE Delanie Walker, WR Ted Ginn Jr., WR Randy Moss, and G Leonard Davis. And although many of these players will not be retained, core players like Goldson and Walker should be the exception.

However, with a quality player like Sopoaga, should the 49ers reward him? Only if the price is right! I’m a true believe in building a defense from the inside out, and with the 49ers running a 3-4, makes that philosophy all the more important. With that said, I don’t believe the 49ers should re-sign “Soap” if he commands top dollar.

Nov.25, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks (left) talks with umpire Garth DeFelice (right) during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

First of all, although Soap is ideal for a 3-4 defense, there are other alternatives out there such as Maake Kemoeatu (Ravens), Randy Starks (Dolphins), Casey Hampton (Steelers), Aubrayo Franklin (Chargers), and Alan Branch (Seahawks) that will be just as capable of filling his shoes. In addition, should the 49ers decide to pass on these free-agents, the draft provides another great resource to fill Soap’s departure.

Oct 13, 2012; Bloomington, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins (52) against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2nd half at Memorial Stadium. Ohio State defeated Indiana 52-49. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

This year’s NFL draft class for defensive lineman is one of the deepest at the position in years. I have been mocking drafts for seven years now, and to see the amount of good players at the defensive line position is encouraging. I have a total of 13 defensive lineman projected to go in the first-round. That’s depth! Some players whom the 49ers may want to consider toward the end of round 1 include John Jenkins (Georgia), Johnthan Hankins (Ohio St.), and Kwame Geathers (Georgia). All of those players are good enough to hold the point of attack and command double teams.

In a perfect world, I think it is safe to say that we would all want Sopoaga back in the red and gold. But this is not a perfect world, and with other top priorities on the 49ers wish list, such as re-signing Dashon Goldson, will more than likely make Soap another cap casualty.

JCredit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Teams playing in the Super Bowl try avoiding controversy at all costs leading up to the NFL championship game. But as the San Francisco 49ers have learned, you cannot control players from making controversial comments with so many reporters asking questions at the Super Bowl.

The controversy and headaches started for the 49ers when CB Chris Culliver made anti-gay remarks at Wednesday’s Super Bowl Media Day. Afterwards Culliver issued an apology, but it did not go away. LB Ahmad Brooks and NT Isaac Sopoaga denied making an It Gets Better video, which part of an anti-bullying campaign for LGBTQ teenagers.

Brooks and Sopoaga appeared in the video back in August along with teammates Ricky Jean Francois and Donte Whitner. However, a USA Today reporter approached them about the video and Brooks said the following:

I didn’t make any video. This is America and if someone wants to be gay, they can be gay. It’s their right. But I didn’t make any video.

After that he was shown the video and said,

Oh, that. It was an anti-bullying video, not a gay (rights) video.

When the reporter pointed out that most teens who are bullied is because of sexual identity issues, Brooks replied,

I know that. I know that. Okay, you’re right and I’m wrong. Are you from one of those New York newspapers?

If you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Sopoaga also denied making the video. After he was reminded by a teammate about making it, he played coy as if he didn’t know what the video was for and said someone was using ‘my name.’

Here was the exchange between the USA Today reporter and the nose tackle:

Sopoaga, too, denied making the video, even while teammate Will Tukuafu, who overheard the question, tried to refresh his memory.

“Yeah, you made that video, remember?”  Tukuafu said.

“No,” Sopoaga said. “I never went. And now someone is using my name.”

Sopoaga was shown the video.

“What was that for?” he asked.

To ask teens to stop bullying other teens because of sexual identity, he was told.

“Yeah, OK,” he said.

Would you like to comment on it, he was asked.

“No,” he said.

This is a self-inflicted wound and is not the type of attention the 49ers needed two days before the Super Bowl is played. I am a supporter of LGBTQ rights and Culliver’s statement, and the denial by Brooks and Sopoaga is deplorable and not welcomed. However, I am not the kind of person to hold someone’s ignorance against them, even Niner players. Everyone had different upbringings and religious beliefs that shape their view of the world and the LGBTQ community. While this is getting a lot of attention now, I am reserving judgment on the three players. What will be important is how they handle the situation going forwarded and whether or not they do something positive to make up for their comments and denials.

The 49ers were the first team in the NFL to have players appear in the It Gets Better video campaign. At the time, Niner Noise applauded the decision because it was the right thing to do and because of how much the LGBTQ community is a part of the city of San Francisco. In response to Brooks and Sopoaga denying making the video, the campaign removed the video featuring the 49ers from its website.